In March 2018, EY launched the first Canada-based EY Global Centre of Excellence in Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Services in Halifax. The Nova Scotian centre will offer digital and RPA services across the country.

As firms continue to embrace digitalization and automation in order to not be left behind in the technological dust, advisory firms are scrambling to provide related strategy and implementation services. As such, global accounting and consulting firm EY has opened its first Canadian Centre of Excellence in Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Services in Halifax. RPA takes over repetitive and routine back office processes, doing the work more quickly, more accurately, and without human fatigue. Ostensibly, this will free up workers to do more high-level tasks – if they have the skills to do so.

“The EY Centre of Excellence model is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting clients facing complex issues stemming from widespread digital change,” remarked Jad Shimaly, EY Canada Advisory Services Managing Partner (and as of July 1, CEO of EY Canada). “Halifax is turning heads as a hub for talent and innovation – and the Centre will continue to fuel this evolution in the Atlantic region.”

Instead of launching in a larger population centre like Toronto or Vancouver, EY chose the Maritime city, citing a diverse, well-educated workforce and a relatively affordable cost of living – the latter of which is certainly not an attribute of Toronto or Vancouver. The Centre will be able to draw on bright graduates from local universities like Dalhousie and St. Mary’s.“What’s perhaps most exciting is the potential to recruit, develop and retain top talent in the region,” said EY Canada IT Advisory Partner John Munro. “We’re focused on creating opportunities for STEM graduates from leading schools that all Canadian businesses can benefit from instead of outsourcing abroad.”

The RPA Centre has the potential to create up to 150 jobs over the next five years. According to the Nova Scotia Business Inc. – which approved a five-year payroll rebate incentive for EY’s new Centre to the tune of an estimated $2,488,500 – EY is expected spend $34,650,000 in salaries over the same period.

The new jobs will, unsurprisingly, be of the high-tech variety – consisting of positions for data scientists, application developers, system architects, and business analysts. “Halifax has a wealth of talent and expertise to offer,” Munro added. “The Centre is an important step in ensuring the prosperity and future growth of the city and the Atlantic region as a tech hot spot.”

The new Centre of Excellence will be located at the current EY Halifax office at RBC Waterside Centre, 1871 Hollis St. The RPA Centre will nearly double the number of EY Halifax employees.

Globally, EY has more than 700 offices in over 150 countries. EY is one of the largest professional services firms in the world, with an employee base of almost 250,000, and reported global revenues of US$31.4 billion.